Żebbuġ’s main arterial road gets half a million euro investment
Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects Minister Ian Borg yesterday visited ongoing works on the two main junctions that serve as the entrances and exits to Żebbuġ.
These are two of the busiest junctions, especially during peak morning hours, creating inconvenience both for commuters and residents, who find roundabouts at either end of their village choked with traffic.
The €500,000 investment is expected to reduce travel time, and includes a redesign of the De Rohan Gate roundabout and the St Dorothy’s School roundabout, where the former will be improved through bypass lanes as a measure to congestion, while the latter will also be improved with increased approach lanes and an improved design. Once the construction of the roundabouts is complete, Mdina Road, which connects the two junctions, will be widened to include an additional southbound lane. One of the lanes on Mdina Road and the service road beside it will be transformed into shared lanes prioritising cyclists with appropriate markings and signage.
Minister Borg explained that the Roads and Infrastructure Directorate’s architects were in discussion with Bicycle Advocacy Group representatives to improve bicycle access at one of the two roundabouts, following which designs would be implemented as a pilot project for more facilities favouring cycling on other parts of the road network. He said that these new systems formed part of the continuous collaboration being established with these representatives, adding that the coming weeks would see similar initiatives to reduce cyclists’ risk of accident, while also promoting this sustainable means of transport and raising awareness on the respect cyclists deserve from other road users.
“Through measures like these, we can continue to strengthen collaboration between different modes of transport, not only from an infrastructural perspective, but also by fostering a culture of road sharing between different users,” said the minister. “In Żebbuġ, and soon in other localities, we are introducing the concept of one lane being used for different transport modes, with people travelling attentively in order to avoid putting one another in danger.” He explained how architects and road experts were working to implement more such solutions through safety systems for cyclists approaching roundabouts and traffic lights. He said that while not all solutions used in other countries could be implemented on Maltese roads, work was being done towards the implementation of solutions which could be highly beneficial for those who cycle.
Borg stressed that with a little more awareness of the needs of different road users, journeys could be improved, especially together with wise investment in roads and surrounding infrastructure.
The road works in Żebbuġ started a few days ago and are expected to be completed over the summer. The minister described the project as one which will continue to improve efficiency and safety on the arterial route from Mosta, Attard and Rabat towards Żebbuġ, Qormi, Santa Venera and Marsa. The minister stressed that the government’s commitment was to improve the quality of life of Maltese and Gozitan people while being sensitivity to the needs of residents in localities where works were ongoing. He spoke of how Żebbuġ residents had had to put up with traffic congestion for far too long. Following full consultation with the local council, an agreement was reached to move vehicles closer to the main road and away from residential roads in the heart of the village.
Borg said that this principle was being applied to all projects, adding that the effects of this change in mentality could already be felt in other localities. He made reference to the works carried out in Qormi last summer, which reduced travel time by 30 per cent, as well as similar projects in Lija, Mosta, Marsa, Gudja and Luqa, which have eased congestion and improved air quality through works which addressed bottlenecks. The minister went on to say that works were to intensify again this summer. He said that Triq tal-Barrani had already been upgraded, while an extensive project had begun to upgrade parts of Triq Aldo Moro, Triq Diċembru 13 and the Marsa-Ħamrun bypass in Marsa, Qormi and Santa Venera. He added that more works were due to begin around the country.
He explained how the situation was improving as a result of minor road works, but stated that this would not suffice. He referred to the government’s holistic approach to the transport sector, saying it included improvements to the public transport system, initiatives promoting alternative modes of transport, such as bicycles and motorcycles, and the free school transport scheme for all school children being led by the education ministry. However, the minister went on to say that the government could not ignore the fact that congestion was a reality, requiring minor infrastructural works to address poor road design, such as a number of bottle- necks, together with more medium and long-term measures, such as the Marsa Junction Project and Central Link Project.
Borg referred to the conclusion of important talks on the setting up of Infrastructure Malta in Parliament a few days ago, with the approval of the law which will be setting it up, and said that in the coming weeks, the agency would be fully operational. He said that while working to overcome present difficulties, it was necessary to look ahead and carry out works through which sustainable and future-proof infrastructure could be ensured; infrastructure which did not allow tomorrow’s generations to continue facing today’s problems.
“Strong infrastructure is essential for a strong transport system – sustainable road works are the foundation of sustainability in the transport sector; we can only move forward if we have the right infrastructure to safely welcome alternative and sustainable means of transport while accommodating the country’s residents and all road users,” concluded Minister Borg.